Great Dip Recipes: Healthy Recipe For Light Shrimp and Artichoke Dip

This dip is made from two of my favorite ingredients - artichoke hearts and shrimp. There are many variations of this popular spread but this version of the recipe is one of my healthy recipes.

I found this recipe in a book called Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh, and Spread It On - a book geared towards revamping recipes that try to take old favorites and put a new and healthy twist on them.

Serve this delicious dip/spread in a small bread bowl. Hollow out the inside and leave a bit of a shell behind inside the bread round - cut the parts that you scoop out into squares or rectangles and then place around the bread bowl for dipping. Saw the top off the bread bowl and set it back on askew for a neat presentation!

RECIPE FOR ARTICHOKE AND SHRIMP SPREAD

INGREDIENTS

• 13-14 oz can water packed artichoke hearts, well drained
• 1 cup cooked small shrimp
• 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
• 3 tablespooons reduced fat mayonnaise
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tespooon instant minced onions
• 1 teaspooon balsamic vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

PREPARATION

1. Remove any hard, coarse leaves from the artichoke hearts. Chop slightly and set aside.
2. Chop the shrimp slightly and set them aside with the artichoke hearts.
3. Stir together sour cream, mayo, Italian seasoning, garlic, onions, vinegar and salt and pepper. Stir to mix well. Stir the mixture into the shrimp and artichokes.
4. Cover, refrigerate at least 1/2 hour to 12 hours to blend flavors.
5. Serve on fat free crackers or toasted Italian bread slices. Spread keeps in refrigerator 1-2 days.
6. See above for serving suggestion in bread bowl - see picture of sourdough loaf.

Recipe courtesy Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh and Spread It On

This recipe is pretty perfect as is but the only things I change up or substitute are these:

• For more flavor, you can substitute marinated artichoke hearts
• You can also substitute frozen artichoke hearts (I buy at Trader Joe's)
• Substitute prawns or larger shrimp for the small shrimp
• Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream for all or part
• Likewise, substitute Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise
• Try adding a different specialty vinegar like champagne vinegar or thyme vinegar
• Add different herbs to taste
• Substitute minced shallots for the minced onions
• Serve with bread cubes cut from the bread bowl you have fashioned
• Use Lavash crackers or other whole grain crackers instead of Italian bread
• Make a bruschetta with the spread on toasted Italian bread or cocktail bread squares
• Add spinach to the recipe - a bit of wilted spinach or thawed, cooked, squeezed
• Add a dash of lemon juice to the recipe
• Serve with fresh vegetables as well as crackers and breads

No matter how you make up this dandy little dip/spread, you will find it to be a marvelous addition to your list of healthy recipes.

This little dip weighs in with a mere 26 calories and is low in fat, sodium and cholesterol.

It is one of my favorite healthy recipes and I hope you give it a try.  No matter what it is served on, it is a great party spread!